CAC APPLAUDS GOV. COOPER’S CLIMATE CHANGE EO

CARY, N.C. — Clean Air Carolina Executive Director June Blotnick issued the following statement applauding North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper’s announcement today of an executive order to address climate change and transition to a clean energy economy.

“Governor Cooper’s action is the kind of responsible environmental leadership North Carolina so desperately needs, recently highlighted by the devastation to our state from hurricanes Florence and Matthew,” said June Blotnick, Executive Director, Clean Air Carolina. “This directive will create jobs, save hard-earned taxpayer dollars and move us away from the dirty fuels that pollute our air and accelerate climate change. Setting an aggressive and achievable standard acknowledges the urgency underscored by the recent international report on climate change. These state targets combined with similar goals set by Charlotte, Asheville, Boone, Wake County and others will advance our transition to a clean energy economy and that’s good for all North Carolinians.”

Cooper announced the executive order at a signing ceremony held at SAS’s 2.3 MW solar farm in Cary. By 2025, the state will seek a 40 percent reduction target in greenhouse gas emissions statewide from 2005 levels, an increase in the number of registered zero emission vehicles statewide by 80,000 and a reduction of energy consumption in state buildings by 40 percent from their 2003 levels.

The executive order underscores the urgency of Clean Air Carolina’s work to promote clean energy and healthy air quality for all North Carolinians. For more information on our advocacy and educational programs, please visit our website.